Toxoplasmosis and psychology

If an invasive alien insect brain half the world's population, control in their brain chemistry network, to change their behavior, leading some people crazy, then you will probably see some thrilling headlines in the Economist.However, something similar may be happening is true, the whole world actually unaware, really disturbing.

rabbit toxoplasmosis is not alien insects, it is actually a relative of Plasmodium, which cause unpleasant malaria parasite is the culprit.Parasite is very common: in some parts of the world, almost 60% of the population are infected with malaria parasites.It can cause fetal harm people living with HIV, because in these two groups, their immune system can not deal with parasites.But for others, its about influenza disease and mild, so they dismiss it.Unless the physical condition of these people display their behavior was changed forever.

speculated that the primary reason for this is a country with which it seems the level of T.gondii appeared in the population related to neuroticism.The second reason is: people seem to Toxoplasma gondii infection by the reaction speed underground, involved in traffic accidents more likely.The third reason is: The people affected the duration of short-term attention, little interest in seeking novelty.The fourth reason may be the most worrying, it is easier than normal in patients with schizophrenia by Toxoplasma gondii infection.Because in addition to humans, T.gondii has two regular hosts: rodents and cats.And, in fact, however, T.gondii on the impact of rodents is amazing.

fatal feline attraction

Joanne Webster of Imperial College in London for many years has been working on Toxoplasma gondii.As between man and mosquito parasite cycle as the cycle of Toxoplasma gondii in rodents and cats between the host, the host body at different stages through different.It is housed in the small intestine wall cats, cat feces, together with the discharge.Then, the murine and other mammalian (including human) to pick up their droppings, Toxoplasma have in their brain, liver and muscle tissue to form cysts.If the parasite is very lucky, rodent parasite Toxoplasma gondii are cats eat, and then cycle begins again.

parasite can rely on the natural events spread by mosquitoes, but the contrast is that the rodent hosts of Toxoplasma gondii is extremely offensive to the next host to assist it in simple narrative, Dr.Webster said: This is in terms of rodents, where the attraction of cats have been fatal.Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice began to appear and turn the behavior with attention to themselves - words, means that such behavior will cause the cat to their attention.Dr Webster was hinted on: they attract with even the smell of cat.

Until recently, it emerged on the knowledge of behavior change is ambiguous.However, the University of Leeds 格伦麦科恩 2009 Toxoplasma DAN analyzed.When he experiments with other species, comparing the results obtained, we found that two pairs of genes encoding enzymes of Toxoplasma gondii rolled into one molecule (dopamine) production.Those with the nervous system in animals, this molecule acts as the new neurons in the chemical messenger.However, in the single-cell animals, it did not have the well-known role.And in particular of dopamine with schizophrenia.Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug to block messenger dopamine, the effect is significant.

interesting is that Dr.Webster found haloperidol help to eliminate the deadly rats attracted to cats.This shows that: the parasites are indeed caused by the brain's dopamine system interference - and therefore may also have the same impact on people.Dr.McCowen is being removed by the dopamine gene to create a form of T.gondii was observed by this deformation of the mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii is capable of resisting such a fatal attraction.

Culture Club

can say for sure, Toxoplasma gondii, influence human performance than the first out of some more serious, such evidence is quite fragmented.However, this study interesting and may warrant further longitudinal study.

links between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia in the first 50 years appeared in the 20th century, clues, but not until 2003, is located near the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Washington Fowler? Tory regain the study, was able to really fully apparent.Dr.Fowler, Johns Hopkins University to work together with Bob Yolken, found that people with schizophrenia the possibility of carrying almost Toxoplasma gondii antibodies with ordinary people than three times higher.

course, this does not prove that T.gondii trigger schizophrenia.Because each school science students beginning to learn the association is not causation.But to say that schizophrenia patients more susceptible to disease, or some variant of the third party failed to identify possible causes of schizophrenia.

However, Charles University, Prague Jaroslav Flegr have found another relationship.Dr.Flegr had studied several aspects of Toxoplasma gondii topics related issues.In one case: The traffic accident arising from either the proportion of persons infected.The accident occurred drivers and pedestrians to be the possibility of infection were higher than three times without incident.And Turkey Manisa's Gerald Aruba Royal University of Kor Yereli also found the same results.In addition, Flegr Dr.infected persons found symptoms of other abnormalities: including reaction rate reductions and reduced attention spans - which both may help to explain the accident statistic - and the ability to reduce novelty.

quite surprised after a symptom.Because the performance of the behavioral characteristics of rodents and, if so, is the ability to enhance the adventure.Searching for power, but the key is responsive to dopamine by nerve cells control.To Toxoplasma gondii, the human body is the final host, so the accuracy of the resulting impact will not be damaged by the survival of the fittest, so may differ from those that really benefit the activities of animal parasites of the impact.

Clearly, the potential impact of all these things are harmful for the Die and no benefit.However, some researchers suggested this study and in depth: The whole society is changing by Toxoplasma gondii.In 2006, the University of California Santa Barbara, published a paper Kevin Lafferty.Article describes the national survey conducted in many countries, obtained by the neurotic level and pregnant women (this team is regularly tested) recorded by the degree of Toxoplasma gondii infection.Where he was involved in a wide survey, from the unabashed Englishman - neurotic range of 0.8, Toxoplasma infection rate was 6.6%, to a passionate French - neurotic range of 1.8, Toxoplasma infection rate was 45%.The prejudices across the English Channel, there may be an unexpected cause.

repeat statement: related links is not causation.To prove this, we need to do a lot of research.However, the parasite wants to be the cat swallowed the phenomenon is shaping the whole world of culture is possible.